Treating-cabinet



E. H. GOLDEN. TREATING CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I9, I920. 1 3 35 Patented Jan. 4,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 5 4/ frrmwwys.

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UNITED srArEs ERIC H. GOLDEN, OF LEWISTOWN, MISSOURI.

rnne'rrne-cenmn'r'.

' Specification of, Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4., 1921.

Application filed April 19, 1920. Serial Km 375,037.

.able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to treating cabinets of the kind that are used by physicians and specialists for administering a vapor bath or hot air bath to a patient.

- ()ne object of my invention is to provide a means by which a vapor, a medicant or heat can be applied to the body or portions of the body of a person in such a manner that the nervous system of the person will not undergo a shock produced by subjecting the persons body to sudden extreme variations in temperature. 7

Another object is to provide a means by which a treating medium can be applied to a person in such a manner thatthe pores of the persons skin will gradually open, thus permitting the treating medium to enter the pores, and thereafter will close before the completion of the treating-operation.

Anotherobject is to provide a vapor bath cabinet "that can be accurately regulated to cause a vapor or a current of air, either hot or cold air, to circulate over the body of the occupant of the cabinet, or over portions of the occupants body, such, for example, as the legs or the arms.

And still another object is to provide a vapor bath cabinet that can be used successfully for treating tlm body and the head of the patient with a treating medium.

To this end I have devised a treating cabinet which consists of a closed housing constructed to receive a person and provided with mean s whereby different sections of same that receive different portions of the patients body can be divided off into separate compartments, means for gradually heating and thereafter cooling the occupants body, or portions of the body, and means for administering a treating medium to the occupant, referably a treating medium consisting of a mixtureof one or more medicated vapors or fumes, or simply a current of hot, dry air. The treating inedium and also the air used to cool the. person is forced over the patients body and circulated through the cabinet by a fan, and

means is provided for establishing and cutting ofi' communication between the body compartment and the head compartment, thus enabling the body or the body and'head of the patient to be treated. In the form of my invention herein illustrated means is also employed for enabling a section of the body compartment to be cut ofi' or separated from the remainder so as to form a. chamber in which the extremities of a person can be circulation consisting of thoroughly mixed and heated vapors or fumes of a gradually increasin temperature that pass from the mixing chamber over the body and the head of the patient and then preferably escape from the cabinet; and third, what it will term the body cooling circulation consisting of a current of cool air of gradually decreasing temperature that is drawn from a cooling chamber and forced over the patients body by a fan.

governing the circulation of the treating medium or thecooling air through the cabinet, and a device, preferably a slatted partition or group of spaced shutters, is arranged between the fan and the loody\'com-.

partment of the cabinet so as to break up the current produced by the fan, and thus cause the treating medium or the air to be distributed uniformly over the body of the patient, or over portions of the patients body. The fan is preferably driven at a comparatively slow speed by an electric motor, and if desired, means can be'used for actuating a signal automatically after the patient has been in the cabinet 21- certain length of time, so as to notify'the attendant in charge of the patient Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective 'view of a vapor bath cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Q

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the cabinet; and Y Valves operated from the exterior of-rthe cabinet are provided for Figsal, and 6 are vertical transverse sectional views of the cabinet, taken on approximately the lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6,

respectively, of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

eferring to the drawings which illustrate. the preferred form of my invention, A designates a casing or housing of any pre ferred construction and design whose interior is divided by suitable partitions so as toform a body compartment B, a head compartment C, a mixing chamber D, a cooling chamber E, a fan chamber F and a discharge chamber G. The left-hand, end

portion of the body compartment B, looking 1 for the occupant of the cabinet is arranged in the compartments B and B and a support 2 for the occupants head is arranged in the head compartment C, said body and head supports being of any preferred shape and construction, but preferably provided ith perforations, slots or openings through which,v the treating medium or the air can circulate. The fan chamber F is connected With the mixing chamber D and with. the cooling chamber E by openings 3 and 4, respectively, formed in the partitions between said chambers, and a valve 5 is provided for establishing and cutting off communication between said chambers. The valve 5' of the. cabinet herein shown is a hinged valve which is so arranged that when it is in its vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3, communication" is established between the mixing chamber D and the fan chamber F, the cooling chamber E being then cut off from the fan chamber. When said valve 5 is in its horizontal position, communication will be established. between the cooling chamber E and the fan chamber F, the mixing chamber D then being cut off from the fan chamber, due to the fact that the valve 5 closes the opening 3. I have herein shown the valve 5 provided with a controlling device 6 that projects outwardly through the end wall of the fan chamber, but I wish it to be understoodthat it is immaterial, so far as my invention is concerned, what particular type or kind of valves and valve controlling devices the cabinet is provided with, so long as they are of such construction that the valves can be operated or adjusted easily from the exterior of the cabinet, thus enabling the flow of the treating medium or the air through the cabinet to be easily regulated.

A fan 7 is arranged in the fanchamber F and a slatted partition or shutter device 8 is arranged between the fan chamber and the adjacent end section of thebody comburners 15, as

partment B, so as to break up the current produced by the fan, and thus cause the treating medium or the air that circulates through the cabinet to be distributed uniformly over the body of the patient being treated. I have herein shown the fan 7 operated by an electric motor 9 with a timing mechanism combined with the fan in such a manner that a signal will operate automatically after the patient'has been in the cabinet a certain length of time, and thus notify the attendant in charge of the patient that".

the treatment has been completed and that the patient should be removed from the cabinet. Any suitable type of timing mechanism may be used and any suitable means can be employed for driving the fan 7 from the motor 9, so long as'it is-of such design that the fan will revolve slowly. In the cabinet herein shown a belt 10 is used for driving the fan 7, said belt traveling over a small pulley on the armature shaft of the motor and over a large pulley on the shaft 11 of the fan; The timing mechanism that is used for operating the signal automatically may consist of a gear 12 operated intermittently by means of a pin 13 on the fan shaft and arranged so that it will move a contact 14 to close anelectric circuit in which a signal is arranged. In Fig. 2 the gear 12 of the tim- 1ng mechanism is shown as having only a few teeth, but in practice a gear provided with a relatively great number of teeth would be employed so as to require considerable time for the gear to make a complete revolution.

The mixing chamber D is provided with a heating means, preferably a number of gas shown in Fig. 3, and receptaole s 16 that are arranged in proximity to sald gas burners are adapted to hold a treat- 1ng substance, usually a substance which will throw ofl fumes or produce a vapor when subjected to heat. ()penings 17 are formed in one wall of'the mixing chamber D, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to admit air'to said chamber, and if desired, said chamber can be provided with a door 18 so as to supply additional air and also to give access to the mixing chamber, either for the purpose of replenishing the material in the receptacles 16 or to regulate the burners 15.

The body compartment B is connected with the mixing chamber D by means of a passageway 19 that has an inclined portion, as shown in Fig, 3, so that the products of condensation which collect in said passageway will drain back into a drain receptacle 20 in the mixing chamber D. A valve 21 3 is mounted in the passageway-19 in such a manner that it can be moved into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, so as '19. The valve 21 is equipped with a controlling device 22 that leads'to the exterior of the cabinet so as to enable said valve to be opened and closedby the attendant in charge of the cabinet. A valve 23, preferably a slidev valve, is also provided for preventing circulation from the body compartment into the passageway 19 or into the cooling chamber E when the head of the patient, is being treated, said valve 23 being equipped with a controlling device 24 that leads to the exterior of the cabinet. In

' practice ,the controlling devices 22 and 24 for 'the valves 19 and 23, respectively, lead outwardly through the rear wall of the cabinet, but for convenience in illustrating the invention I have shown the controlling device 24 as leading outwardly through the end wall of the cabinet. The passageway 19 is provided with a branch 19 that leads upwardly to the end section B of the body compartment and a Valve 23 is provided for normally closing the lower end of said branch. The upper end of said branch is normally closed by a cap 23". When it is desired to use the cabinet for treating the cabinet that is normally closed by a slide door 33*, as shown in Fig. 1.

A slide partition 25 is arranged between the body compartment B and the head compartment C, which partition is provided in its lower edge" with a notched portion 25,

as shown in Fig. 4, that conforms to the shape of the neck of the occupant of the cabinet. WVhen said partition 25 is in its depressed position communication will be i cut off between the body compartment and the head compartment, and when said slide is in its elevated position, the treating medium that is supplied to the body compartment will also circulate through the head compartment. If desired, a thermometer 26 can be arranged in the head compartment in such a position that it can be obcan be formed from any suitable material,

and can be of any preferred design. The walls of the head compartment C are preferably made of glass and comprise an inclined top wall 29, an end wall 30 and side panels 31 hinged together-s0 as to form a single unit that can be applied and removed easily. The front wall of the cabi-v net is provided with a door 33 through which the atient can enter the body compartment or if desired, the entire upper portion of the cabinet can be raised to admit the patient, said upper portion which is designated by the reference character 34 being hinged at 3-5 to the rear wall of the cabinet, as shown in broken .lines in Fig. 1. Doors 36 and 37'are formed in the rear wall and in the right hand end wall of the cooling chamber E, and a door 38' is formed .in the end wall of the discharge chamber G. The fan chamber Fis also preferably provided with a door 39 through which access can be had to said chamber, and a door 39 is arranged in the front wall of the cabinet, so as to give access to the burners 15.

An inclined drain 40 that is arranged under the support 1 on which the body of the patient rests is provided with a drain pipe 41 whose lower end is arranged-in alinement with a waste pipe 42, the upper end of said drain pipe 41 being normally closed by a cap 43 carried by a lever 44 which is so arranged that it will coiiperate with a device 45 on the front door 33 of the body compartment to raise said cap automatically when said door is closed and to lower said cap so as to close the drain pipe 41 when said door 33 isopened. At the lower end of the drain pipe 41 is a flanged collar 46 that extends over a waste pipe 47, said collar being normally held in engagement with said waste pipe by means of a latch 48.

If it is desired to subjectthe body of the patient to a vapor bath the patient is first placed in the cabinet and the valves are so arranged that a circulation will be created from the mixing chamber D through the body compartment B and then back to the mixing chamber through the passageway 19, as indicated by the solid arrows in Fig. 3, this being accomplished by arranging the valve 4 in its vertical position, the valve 21 in its vertical position, the valve 23 in its retracted position, namely, outof alinement with the upper end of the return passageway 19, and the slide partition 25 between the body compartment B and the head compartment C in ,its depressed position. The

burners 15 under the receptacles 16 are then lighted so as to vaporize the substance in said receptacles and the fan 7 is then started, so as to cause a heated current of air and medicated vapor of gradually increasing temperature to be distributed uniformly over the bodyof the patient. The fan 7 revolves at a comparatively slow speed, and as the heat is applied to the body of the patient gradually, the nervous system of the patient will not undergo a shock, as would be apt to occur if the patients body were subjected to a sudden blast of highly heated vapor. In my improved cabinet all portions of the patients body are subjected to the same degree of heat, the temperature of which is gradually increased as the treating operation proceeds, thus causing the pores of the patients body to open gradually as the treating operation proceeds. If the body of the patient is to be subjected merely to a hot air bath, the receptacles 16 are removed and one or more of the burners 15 are used to heat air which is circulated over the body of the patient by the fan 7. If it is desired to treat the head of the patient, as well as the body, the slide partition 25 is moved upwardly, the valve 23 is moved into a position to cut off communication between the body compartment B and the return passageway l9 and the door 38 in the discharge chamber G- is opened. Thereafter, the heated vapors or fumes that are drawn from the mixing chamber D bythe fan 7 will be forced into the body compartment B and will circulate from said body compartment through the head compartment,and thence into the discharge chamber. G, as indicated by the dotted arrows in Fi 3, finally escaping from said discharge 0 amber to the atmosphere through the opening in same that is normally closed by the door 38.

After the patient has been treated with medicated vapors or with hot air in the manner above described, the patients body is gradually cooled so as to permit the pores of the skin to close before the-patient leaves the cabinet. This gradual cooling of the patient is effected by moving the valve 4 into its horizontal position so as to cut the mixing chamber D out of service and establish communication between the cooling chamber E and the fan chamber, the valve 21 being moved into its horizontal position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, so as to close the return passageway 19 and establish communication between the body compartment B and the cooling chamber E, the door 37 in the end wall of the cooling chamber E being opened so as to admit fresh air to said chamber. Thereafter, a current of air of gradually reducing temperature will be distributed uniform tient. A cabinet of the construction above dey over the body of the pascribed makes it possible to treat the body of apatient with a medicated vapor or with hot air in such a manner that the nervous system of the patient is not subjected to a shock, due to the fact that the patients body is heated gradually and is thereafter cooled gradually, the gradual heating of the body causing the pores to open in such a way that the treating medium can penetrate into same efliciently and thereafter close or return to their normal condition before the patient leaves the cabinet. Furthermore, such a cabinet makes it possible to treat the head as well as the body of the patient, or treat the arms or the legs independently of other portions of the body. If desired, the headcompartment can be ventilated by raising the hinged members 29, 30 and 31 of the head compartment, in case the treating medium is of such a character that it is not desired to have it come in contact with the head of the patient.

Having thus described my 1I1VB11l310I1,Wl1a,t I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. A treating cabinet provided wlth compartment for receiving the body of the occupant and a compartment for receiving the head of the occupant, and. means for forcing a treating medium through the body compartment or through the body and head compartments.

2. A treating cabinet, comprising a casing provided with a compartment for receiving the occupant, a chamber in said casing provided with means for heating-a treating medium, means for drawing said heated treating medium from said chamber, forcing said medium through said compartment over the entire body of the occupant and then returning said medium to said chamber, and. means for controlling the circulation of said medium.

3. A treating cabinet provided with a compartment for receiving the occupant, a chamber provided with means for heating a treating medium, a separate chamber to which air is supplied, and means whereby circulation can be established either between said compartment and the chamber in which the treating medium is heated or between said compartment and the chamber to which air is supplied.

.4. A treating cabinet provided with a compartment for receiving the occupant, a chamber provided with meansfor heating a treating medium, andmeans whereby said heated treating medium can be drawn from said chamber and circulated through said entire compartment or through a section of said compartment and then returned to said chamber. a

5. A treating cabinet provided with a compartment for receiving the occupant, a v

mixing chamber provided with means for 80 seating a treating medium, .means for creating a circulation in saidcompartment,

- and means whereby the air in saidair chamber or the heated treating medium in said mixing chamber can be supplied to said fan chamber.

i 6. A treating cabinet provided with a compartment for receiving the occupant, a fan chamberseparated from said compartment by a slatted partition or similar means, a fan in said fan chamber, and means for enabling a heated treating medium or a cooling medium to be supplied to'said fan chamber. Y

7. A treating cabinet provided with a body compartment and a head compartment,

, an adjustable means that is adapted to be arranged in one position so) as to establish communication between. said compartments and in a different positlon so as to cut of]? communication between said compartments,

means. for forcing a treatinge medium through both of said compartments or through only the body compartment, and means whereby the force and volume of said medium may be varied.

8. A treating cabinet provided with a compartment for receiving the occupant, a

mixing chamber provided with a means for rawing the treating medium from said mixing chamber and forcing said medium through said compartment overthe body of ment;

- ment by a slatted partition or similar means,

the occupant, means for controlling the volume of the treating medium supplied to said chamber, and a passageway leading from said compartment back to said mixing chamber. 1 Y

9. A treating cabinet provided with a. compartment for receiving the occupant, a mixing chamber provided with a means for heating a treating medium, means for drawing the treating medium from said mixing chamber and introducing it into said com-- partment, a passageway leading from said compartment back to said mixing chamber, an air chamber, and means for enabling said mixing chamber to be cut out of service, and a circulating passageway established between said air chamber and said compart- 10. A treating cabinet provided with a compartment for receiving the occupant, "a mixing chamber, means'that divides said compartment into a number'of sections, passageways leading from the sections of said compartment to said mixing chamber, and a fan for creating a circulation through vsaid compartment, passageways and mixing chamber.

11. A treating cabinet providedwith a compartment for receiving the occupant, a fan chamber-separated from said compartand a controlling valve in said passageway.

125A treating cabinet provided with a compartment for receiving the occupant, a drain plpe leading from said compartment,

aclosure for the upper end of said drain plpe, a door for said compartment, and means for moving said closure into and out of operative pbsition when the door of said cabinet is opened and closed.

13. A treating cabinet provided'with a compartment for receiving the occupant, a mlxmg chamber provided with means for admitting air to same, a heating means in sa1d mixing chamber, a fan chamber communicating with said compartment, an air chamber, a valve that is adapted to be arranged 1n one position so as to establish communication between said" fan chamber and said mixing chamber and in a different position soas to establish communication between said fan chamber and said air chamber, a passageway leading 'from said compartment to said mixing chamber, and a valve insaid pasageway that is adapted to be arranged in one position so as to close said passagewa and in a different position so as toestab ish. communication between said passagewayand said air chamber.

14. A treating cabinet provided with a compartment vfor receiving the occupant, a

mixing chamber provided with means for admitting air to same, a heating means in sa1d mixlng chamber, a .fan chamber com municating with said compartment, an air chamber, a valve that is adapted to be arranged in one position so as to establish commu'nlcatlon between sa1d fan chamber and said mixing chamber and in a different position so as to establish communication between said fan chamber and said air chamber, a passageway leading-from said and the'compartment in which the body of the occupant is arranged when said head compartment and discharge chamber are in use.

15. A treating cabinet provided with compartments for receiving the head and body of the occupant, a movable partition between said compartments, means for ventilating the head compartment, a mixing chamber provided With means for heating a treating medium, a fan chamber provided with a slowly revolving fan and separated from the body compartment by a slatted partition or similar means, a passageway communicating with said mixing chamber and provided'with branches that lead to different sections of said body compartment, an air chamber, and means whereby a ERIC H. GOLDEN. 

